Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding
About teeth grinding
Bruxism is the involuntary clenching, grinding and gnashing of the teeth. About half of the population does it from time to time. Around 5% of the population are regular, forceful tooth grinders. Often it happens during sleep, but some people grind their teeth when they are awake.
Usually, a person doesn’t realise that they grind their teeth in their sleep. The partner who shares their bed (and hears the grinding noises at night) is often the first to notice the problem. Parents may also hear it in their sleeping children. Teeth grinding can be a result of stress. For example, some people grind their teeth when they are angry, concentrating or feeling anxious.
Symptoms of teeth grinding
Signs and symptoms of teeth grinding include:
headache, jaw joint and/or ear pain
aching teeth, particularly just after waking up
aching and/or stiffness of the face and temples just after waking up
aching or stiffness in the jaws while chewing, particularly during breakfast
clenching the jaw when angry, anxious or concentrating
temperature-sensitive teeth
cracked or chipped tooth enamel
tooth indentations on the tongue
raised tissue on the inside of the cheek caused by biting
loose teeth.
Signs of teeth grinding
Problems caused by teeth grinding may include:
cracked tooth enamel
more wear and tear on the teeth than is normal
broken teeth or broken restorations (for example, fillings)
strain on the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint)
pain in the jaw joint or limited movement
sore jaw muscles
tooth loss (rare)
enlargement of the jaw muscles (rare)
teeth being more sensitive to hot and cold things.
Risk Factors for tooth grinding
Stress and anxiety
Alcohol
Smoking
Caffeine
Snoring
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Drugs: Antidepressants, anti-psychotics, amphetamines, cocaine
Your dentist or other oral health professional can assess the influence of these factors.
Teeth grinding in children
Many parents will have noticed the sound of their children grinding their teeth at some point, often as they sleep. However, because children’s teeth and jaws change and grow so quickly it’s not usually a damaging habit that requires treatment and most outgrow it as they get older.
The main risk factors for tooth grinding in children include:
Pain when teeth are coming through
Emotional stress and anxiety
Medications such as antidepressants, anti-psychotics
Medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Many of the signs that children grind their teeth are the same as for adults
The management of teeth grinding in children depends of the amount of wear, the child’s age, the symptoms experienced and the needs of the child and parent or care giver. A dentist or other oral health professional is best placed to make a full assessment of each child’s situation.
Treatment for teeth grinding
If you think you grind your teeth, speak with your dentist or other oral health professional. They will look at your teeth and talk about possible treatment options that may include:
repair of tooth damage
rule out other types of tooth wear such as erosion
assessment of risk factors including sleep disordered breathing
a special mouthguard (‘bite splint’) to wear at night so that the guard is worn down instead of your teeth. In most cases, a bite splint will only help with the symptoms and will not stop you from grinding altogether.
Management of bruxism can include:
stress management therapy
relaxation techniques
cognitive behaviour therapy
hypnotherapy
good sleep hygiene
regular exercise.
Where to get help
Your
dentist
Dental Health Services
Victoria
External Link
provides public dental services through the
Royal Dental Hospital
Melbourne
External Link
and community dental clinics, for eligible people. For more information about public dental services Tel.
(03) 9341 1000
, or
1800 833 039
outside Melbourne metro
Australian Dental Association ‘Find a
Dentist
External Link
’ search function or Tel.
(03) 8825 4600
Psychologist, to help with stress management
Physiotherapist